MSHSL Section One Final Baseball Games Determined

The Northfield Raiders, Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cougars, Lyle-Pacelli Athletics and New Prague Trojans are one game away from a state tournament berth in each of their Section 1 classes.

The Raiders came from behind at Marcuson Park in Austin to defeat the Stewartville Tigers 11-7.  The Tigers had a 5-3 lead after one inning and added a run in the second to take a 6-4 lead, but Northfield plated 5 runs in the 5th inning to pull away for good.

The Raiders cranked out 13 hits while Stewartville collected 7 hits.  Each team had 2 errors.

Aaron Reisetter, junior, had 3 hits, 2 RBI including a home run and double to lead the Northfield scoring parade.  Kamden Kaiser, senior, clubbed two hits with 1 RBI and swiped 2 of the Raiders 4 stolen bases in the game.

Ryan Cahoon, junior, added 2 hits, 1 RBI, Kyan Rauk, senior, had a double, 1 RBI, Austin Koep, senior, double and RBI, JT Graupmann, sophomore, smacked a double.  Jacob Geiger, senior, and Tegan Mellgren, senior, stole one base each while collecting hits, Mellgren had an RBI.

Eli Mikkelson, junior, started on the hill for the Raiders going the first 3 innings.  He allowed 6 hits, 7 runs, 5 earned, with 2 strikeouts and 4 walks while throwing 66 pitches, 44 strikes.

Graupmann, threw the final 4 innings to get the win with 1 hit allowed, no runs.  He struck out 5 and walked 2 batters while throwing 56 pitches, 35 strikes..

Stewartville lived up to their name stealing 6 bases in the loss, led by Reed Neubauer, senior, with 3 stolen bases,  Tigers starting pitcher Bo Boettcher, senior, achieved the only multi-hit game for the top seed with 3 hits, 1 RBI, and a stolen base.

Stewartville had two doubles in the high scoring contest. Andrew Jelinek, senior, had one of them, 3 RBI, Carter Miller, senior, the other double.

Boettcher pitched the first 4 innings, giving up 10 hits, 8 runs, 7 earned, with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk.  He threw 81 pitches, 52 strikes.  When he left the game Stewartville was ahead 7-5 but some runners were on the basepaths that eventually scored.

Jayce Klug, junior, tossed the final 3 innings, allowing 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned with no strikeouts and 2 walks.  He threw 54 pitches, 31 strikes.

The win means Northfield is one victory away from a state tournament berth.

Stewartville defeated Winona 11-0 in 5 innings to get back to the winner's bracket.  They will return to Austin Tuesday to face the Raiders again and must win two games to advance to the big show.

The Winhawks downed Byron 4-1 to get the opportunity to get back to the winner's bracket but fell to the Tigers.

Winona committed 4 errors and 3 pitchers allowed 5 walks, scattering 7 hits over the 5 innings.  3 of the 11 runs were earned.  The Winhawks finished their season with a (12-11)  record.

Northfield is (13-8), Stewartville (21-2) going into Tuesday.

Section 1AA

Zumbrota-Mazeppa defeated defending Section 1AA champion Cannon Falls 3-0 at Mayo Field in Rochester in winner's bracket semifinal action.

Hudson Ohm, sophomore, threw 6 innings , 100 pitches, 68 strikes, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, tallied 12 strikeouts, 3 looking.  Kaleb Lochner, senior, nailed down the save while pitching the 7th and facing just 3 batters, 2 strikeouts, 1 looking while throwing 14 pitches, 9 strikes.

Bombers Head Coach Bucky Lindow called it a "great game," crediting the Cougars with some terrific defensive plays.  Cannon Falls was 0 for 7 at the plate with runners in scoring position.  2 of their 3 hits were doubles by Aaron Melhouse, senior and Ryan Hjellming, sophomore.

Jack Meyers, junior, started on the mound for the Bombers and took the loss while throwing 5 innings, scattering 5 hits with 6 strikeouts, 2 looking, 3 runs, 2 earned.  He threw 74 pitches, 53 strikes.  Abram Tennessen, sophomore, faced 3 batters in the 6th inning, throwing 13 pitches, 5 strikes, no hits, 1 walk, no strikeouts.

Wilson Nordquist, junior, stroked an RBI double for Z-M.  Jack Krier, senior, 2 hits, 1 RBI.

The Cougars are now (16-6).

Cannon Falls then defeated LaCrescent 6-1 at Mayo Field to get back to the winner's bracket.  The Lancers scored a 2-1 walk-off win against Pine Island in the elimination bracket to earn the opportunity to get back to the winner's bracket.  The winning run scored on a Panthers error.

Pine Island finished their season (15-10).

La Crescent took a 1-0 lead in the first inning before Cannon Falls scored 3 runs in the second frame and never looked back.  Ryan Hjellming allowed 1 hit while pitching 4 2/3 innings with 73 pitches, 41 strikes, 4 strikeouts, 2 looking, 4 walks.

Tennesen took the rubber the final 2 1/3 innings throwing 33 pitches, 19 strikes with 1 strikeout, it was looking, 2 walks, 1 hit allowed.  He earned a save.

Seven Bombers had at least 1 hit in the win led by Caiden Huebsch, junior, 2 hits,          1 RBI, Hjellming hit a home run, 3 RBI, Meyers an RBI double.  Cannon Falls was 2 for 6 with runners in scoring position in that contest.

The Bombers are now (13-11) and play 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at Mayo Field in Rochester.  They need to win two games just like they did last year to advance to the state tournament.  The Hiawatha Valley League is assured of having a team at the pinnacle of baseball.

Section 1A

Lyle-Pacelli sits in the so-called driver's seat needing one win to gain a state tournament berth after defeating Hayfield 2-1 in winner's bracket semifinal action at Riverland College in Austin.

Top seed in the section Southland blanked Rushford-Peterson 3-0 to advance and play the Vikings.

The Rebels picked up a 9-1 win to earn the right to go back to Riverland Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. with hopes of winning two games to gain state.

Lyle-Pacelli Athletics are #2 seed with a (17-6) record.  Southland is (21-2), had to come all the way through the elimination bracket, meaning 4 straight victories.

Section 1AAAA

New Prague Trojans are one win from state after edging Rochester Mayo 2-1 at Dundas Memorial Field Saturday, June 1, 2024.  The Trojans are #2 seed, Farmington #1 was upset by #4 Mayo 10-2 last Tuesday, May 28, 2024 in Farmington.

The Tigers beat Lakeville North 5-3 to end the Panthers season before victories over Rochester Century, 4-0 and Rochester Mayo 2-0.

Farmington enters Section 1AAAA finals with a (22-3) record while New Prague is    (17-6).  First game is 5:00 p.m. at Dundas Memorial Field with a second game if necessary scheduled for 7:30 p.m.